updated 09:50 am EDT, Thu September 10, 2009

Nokia Twist swivel phone debuts in US first

Nokia today launched one of its most unusual phone designs to date through Verizon. The often-rumored 7705 Twist has a short, squat shape that has a swivel-out QWERTY keyboard instead of the usual slider. It also has a new contact light ring that can be programmed to flash when text or voice from a recognized contact comes in. Nokia lets owners customize the back shell with replacable covers, black and purple versions of which come with the Twist in the box.

The phone is treated as a mid-range messaging phone by Verizon and doesn't use a smartphone OS, but it does have 3G over EVDO as well as a 3-megapixel camera, an HTML-capable web browser, and communicating through e-mail and IM. The American carrier also uses assisted-only GPS for VZ Navigator and the 3G for its V CAST music and video services.

Verizon will start taking buyers online on the 13th and will have the Twist in stores just over a week later, on the 21st. The Nokia handset should cost $100 on contract following a rebate.